Educate me on Colt Official Police Officers Model 22lr revolver

Dunross · Mar 22, 2021

In the way these things sometimes work I stumbled over a revolver last weekend that I wasn't looking for, but later realized I may actually want.

It's a Colt Official Police Officers Model 22lr. Six inch barrel, adjustable front and rear sight. Information on the web has been kind of mixed so I'm hoping someone here can give me some insight as to what I will be looking at when I go back down there.

From what I understand the Match model was made after the war with elevation and windage adjustable on the rear sight. The Target model was made before the Second World War with windage drift adjustable on the rear sight, elevation on the front sight.

Reputation of these pistols (in good working condition) seems to have been excellent and were the bullseye match choice of many shooters back in the day. Did a check on Gunbroker, but did not find many Officers Models.

What should I be looking for when I handle it? And presuming good working condition what would be a ballpark price? It appears to have been shot a fair amount, but not abused. Not in 98% condition cosmetically, but pretty good considering its age. I believe the grips were wood, but I don't recall if they had the Colt medallion inset. I only saw it through the glass as just then I did not realize I was interested.

Monac · Mar 22, 2021

I can't tell you anything helpful about. There has been a Colt Officers Model on the shelf at a gun store in my area for several months. It seems reasonably priced to me, so I am always surprised to see it is still there. I can't recall, offhand, if it is a 22 or 32. I would have noticed if it was a 32. Superficially it seems to be in good shape, but I have not examined it. I guess I would look for wear or peening on the cylinder hand and the cylinder ratchet. Colt used a unique double-hand arrangement that is said to have given a tighter lockup, but been more finicky to adjust. There are not a lot of people who can do it today, I suppose.

Anyway, Colt was about the best there was back then. A 22 will be pretty heavy, but it could be an excellent shooter as well as very finely made gun.

303 hunter · Mar 22, 2021

I’ve got a 1951 vintage 22 with fixed sights in like new condition. Bought it from a private owner for $500. Action is very smooth and very accurate. Every time I take it to the range, someone tries to buy it. I can understand, because it had the same effect on me.

Monac · Mar 22, 2021

303 hunter said:
View attachment 986701 I’ve got a 1951 vintage 22 with fixed sights in like new condition. Bought it from a private owner for $500. Action is very smooth and very accurate. Every time I take it to the range, someone tries to buy it. I can understand, because it had the same effect on me.

A 1951 production gun, with fixed sights in 22 rimfire? That's odd. The bright finish is not nearly as common on the blue. And the hard rubber grips must be replacements on a postwar gun like that. That revolver is unusual in several ways. Thanks for putting up a picture, 303 Hunter. It's nice to see what strange beasts are lurking out there.

Jim Watson · Mar 22, 2021

You are commingling some nomenclature there. Forget the "Official Police". If it has adjustable sights, it is an Officer's Model.
Elevation front, windage rear is a prewar Officer's Model Target. (Blue Book shows it only as Officer's Model until 1927.)
Coltmaster W-E adjustable rear sight, straight bull barrel, is a postwar Officer's Model Special.
Accro or Elliason click adjustable rear sight, heavy tapered barrel, is an Officer's Model Match.

Were there transitionals and overlaps and parts cleanup guns not strictly to that formula? Sure, it's Colt, after all.

BigBlue 94 · Mar 22, 2021

The Colt OM pistols are great shooters.

Look over the lockup. Cock the hammer, and attempt to wiggle the cylinder. It should be locked and not much wiggle. If it locks, but wiggles or rotates a bit, it will need a bit of work on that nub on the lower frame in the cylinder cutout. If it needs help to rotate into the locked position, it will need work on the pawl and more. Colt smiths are few and far between. As you can see from my super technical terms, I am not one of them. Though I occasionally aspire to be

Vern Humphrey · Mar 22, 2021

I have the Officer's Model Target in .22 LR. At the time, it was Colt's top-of-the-line target revolver. Incidentally, it's the same basic gun as the Python.

BLACKHAWKNJ · Mar 22, 2021

When the Colt Trooper was introduced in 1953 it was available in 22LR and 38 Special. Yes, back in the day Bullseye shooters fired either the Colt Officer's Model or the S&W K-22 and K-38.

Master Blaster · Mar 22, 2021

Colt made the official police in .22lr it would have fixed sights as it was designed as a trainer for the .38 spl. Model.

The Officers model was just that, same frame size as the OP but the deluxe adjustable sight target model. Officers model came in .38 spl and .22lr.

Dunross · Mar 23, 2021

Jim Watson said:
You are commingling some nomenclature there. Forget the "Official Police". If it has adjustable sights, it is an Officer's Model.
Elevation front, windage rear is a prewar Officer's Model Target. (Blue Book shows it only as Officer's Model until 1927.)
Coltmaster W-E adjustable rear sight, straight bull barrel, is a postwar Officer's Model Special.
Accro or Elliason click adjustable rear sight, heavy tapered barrel, is an Officer's Model Match.

Were there transitionals and overlaps and parts cleanup guns not strictly to that formula? Sure, it's Colt, after all.

BigBlue 94 said:
The Colt OM pistols are great shooters.

Look over the lockup. Cock the hammer, and attempt to wiggle the cylinder. It should be locked and not much wiggle. If it locks, but wiggles or rotates a bit, it will need a bit of work on that nub on the lower frame in the cylinder cutout. If it needs help to rotate into the locked position, it will need work on the pawl and more. Colt smiths are few and far between. As you can see from my super technical terms, I am not one of them. Though I occasionally aspire to be

Thanks. This is what I was looking for. Starting to look like I won't be able to go back to look at it again this Saturday, but it appears to have been in their case for some time so hopefully it will still be there when I go back.

I was confused on the Official Police & Officers Model as were a couple of sources I read. It's definitely an Officers Model and appears to be pre-WWII.

Master Blaster · Mar 23, 2021

Here is a picture of my two OM revolvers the .22lr Officers Model has the thinner barrel and is a prewar 1939 production gun. The prewar models all had a checkered cylinder release, checkered trigger face, checkered backstrap, and checkered hammer spur. Post war guns dropped the checkered and went with grooved hammer and trigger and smooth cylinder latch. The backstrap was serrated instead. The Heavy barrel is an officers model special in .38 spl. made in 1953. Both are great revolvers.

Jim Watson · Mar 23, 2021

The OMT .22 catalogs as heavier than the OMT .38 Heavy Barrel. Small holes in big iron.

Your OMS has a Micro rear sight replacing the Coltmaster, probably an improvement.

Monac · Mar 23, 2021

Master Blaster said:
Here is a picture of my two OM revolvers the .22lr Officers Model has the thinner barrel and is a prewar 1939 production gun. The prewar models all had a checkered cylinder release, checkered trigger face and checkered hammer spur. Post war guns dropped the checkered and went with grooved hammer and trigger and smooth cylinder latch. serrated instead. The Heavy barrel and is an officers model special made in 1953. Both are great revolvers.

Those are very handsome guns, Master Blaster, and must be a dream to shoot. But they are big guns for 22 rimfire. They are the exact opposite of the S&W Scandium revolvers in calibers like 45 ACP and 357 Magnum. I know which one I would rather carry for 8 hours, but also which one I would rather shoot!

Cump · Mar 23, 2021

Here is mine that I love to boast about. I inherited it from my greatgrandfather through my grandfather. Ggf bought it circa 1935 and I know he used it to put rabbit and squirrel on the table.

It is my most accurate handgun within 50 yards.

Monac · Mar 23, 2021

Monac said:
When you tell people that, how often do they offer you $330 for it?

Because those people are pikers! I am willing to go up to $450 on it, a clear 50% profit (if you forget about the tax, which I encourage you to do)!

You do take postdated out-of-state three-party checks, don't you?

One of my mild regrets is not getting a Diamondback before the prices went to the moon. I would have liked a 38, but a 22 would have been good too, But I had a S&W Model 15, and there was SO many guns to buy....

Cump said:
Here is mine that I love to boast about. I inherited it from my greatgrandfather through my grandfather. Ggf bought it circa 1935 and I know he used it to put rabbit and squirrel on the table.

It is my most accurate handgun within 50 yards.
View attachment 987006 View attachment 987007

My father's family was poorer, I guess. He had to use a Stevens Crackshot to put rabbits on the table. He said squirrels were too much work to skin for the amount of meat on them. Those were New Jersey squirrels; I forget if they were grey or fox squirrels.

BigBlue 94 · Mar 23, 2021

Monac said:
Those are very handsome guns, Master Blaster, and must be a dream to shoot. But they are big guns for 22 rimfire. They are the exact opposite of the S&W Scandium revolvers in calibers like 45 ACP and 357 Magnum. I know which one I would rather carry for 8 hours, but also which one I would rather shoot!

You would like the police positive target... Its more "22 sized"

Top, with a full size New Service below.

Cump · Mar 23, 2021

Monac said:
My father's family was poorer, I guess. He had to use a Stevens Crackshot to put rabbits on the table. He said squirrels were too much work to skin for the amount of meat on them. Those were New Jersey squirrels; I forget if they were grey or fox squirrels.

Maybe the squirrels are bigger in east Kansas. (They are scrawny here in Utah.)

Great GF never owned any guns other than 22s (the Colt and one rifle that I am aware of), maybe because he was slight. I am sure he took more with his rifle, but he carried the Colt when he was round and about. It is definitely accurate enough for head shots.

BigBlue 94 · Mar 23, 2021

Cump said:
Maybe the squirrels are bigger in east Kansas. (They are scrawny here in Utah.)

With thousands upon thousands of oaks, pecan, walnut, and hedge, the tree rats here are absolute monsters! Whopping 16 ouncers!

The 17hmr keeps em under control though haha. Ive been to UT and CO. The bushytails are kinda scrawny out there with less edible foliage.

NIGHTLORD40K · Mar 23, 2021

Dunross said:
Thanks. This is what I was looking for. Starting to look like I won't be able to go back to look at it again this Saturday, but it appears to have been in their case for some time so hopefully it will still be there when I go back.

I was confused on the Official Police & Officers Model as were a couple of sources I read. It's definitely an Officers Model and appears to be pre-WWII.

Love mine, paid $750 just before COVID happened-

If Im having a good day, it can occasionally outshoot my M17 Smith and Wesson, but both are very accurate pistols. I actually shoot the Colt better in DA, and the S&W better SA.

Walkalong · Mar 23, 2021

I got a great deal on a Colt OM in .22 Mag because it was a .22 LR someone had converted, and not well, brass would stick in the chambers bad. I polished them real well and now cases fall out. I have the original sight. Really fun gun. I have the proper grips that came on it, put some nice aftermarket ones on it. Bushnell 2X scope.

Colt OMM .22LR (Converted to .22 LR) AM Grips Pic 5 @ 77%.JPG

Monac · Mar 28, 2021

This gun isn't a 22, but it is a Colt Officer's Model, and it seems to have an interesting story behind it, so I thought I would add it to this thread:

The picture is from this auction: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/896469517

There are 9 more pictures in the auction listing, including a clear shot of the barrel marking (this is a Heavy Barrel) and a couple of the internal mechanism with the sideplate removed.

I have no connection with this gun or this seller, it just showed up on the home page of GunBroker for me.

Educate me on Colt Official Police Officers Model 22lr revolver

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